Gaby Sanchez won’t play this weekend for Florida Marlins; Josh Johnson hopes to pitch again this year

Gaby Sanchez has decided to serve his three-game suspension starting tonight, meaning he will miss the Nationals series.

Gaby made the decision an hour or so ago because he said he wanted to be available to play against the Phillies, who open a three-game series Monday in Miami. The Phillies are in first place; the Nationals are in fifth place.

Meanwhile, Josh Johnson spoke to reporters in the last hour and said his back and shoulder feel better. He said he still hopes to pitch again this year, but only if he feels 100 percent.

“Time will tel,” he said. “It’s something we are taking very cautiously. We’re being smart about it. Obviously I want to be out there, I want to be pitching but I want to make sure both things calm down. It’s a waiting game from here.”

Johnson will try to throw a bullpen session tomorrow. He is penciled in for Wednesday, but manager Edwin Rodriguez didn’t sound as optimistic as JJ did about the All Star pitching again this year.

“He says he’s ready to go but I would like to see him (throw). If there’s any chance of that he could get any worse, it doesn’t make any sense to throw him out there,” Edwin said.

“The medical reports say he should be all right, but we have to really watch him very closely. I haven’t seen him throw yet but if there’s any indication, if me or (pitching coach) Randy St. Claire or (trainer) Sean Cunnigham sees that there’s any chance of him getting worse, we’re going to shut him down.”

Here’s a clip of JJ talking about the subject:

Nyjer’s in, but no fight expected
The Marlins took early batting practice today, giving Edwin a chance to chat with coaches from the Washington Nationals.

Edwin said they talked about everything except for last week’s fight, leading the Marlins manager to believe that both teams have put the brawl in the past.

Nyjer Morgan is in the lineup.

“We are not concerned,” Edwin said. “They are ready to play baseball. I was talking to some of the Nationals coaches and they have turned the page. It time to play baseball, to keep that incident in the past.”